94 | Reality TV in Romance: Fake Dating, Real Feelings, Terrible Producers

February 18

57 mins

Episode Description

It’s Nikki’s birthday pick, and we’re talking reality TV romance: where NDAs are tighter than the contracts, producers are messier than the contestants, and love has to survive the edit.

This episode breaks down:

* Why reality TV is the perfect romance framework: fake dating, forced proximity, public vs private selves, producer interference, villain edits, and love as performance

* How romance stories let love win despite the system (something reality TV almost never manages in real life)

* Why love hitting despite the format is so satisfying

* Grand gestures that actually make sense

Reality TV romance novels mentioned:

* The Boyfriend Game by Stella Starling: https://amzn.to/3Mlm75j

* Treble Maker by Annabeth Albert: https://amzn.to/4rAKZ8F

* Winner Bakes All series by Alexis Hall: https://amzn.to/4aPUvys

* Facing Reality by Sienna Atwell: https://amzn.to/464w79H

* The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: https://amzn.to/3MxvtLb

* Cupid Calling by Viano Oniomoh: https://amzn.to/4riWrFG

* If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy: https://amzn.to/4rhSrFv

* The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun: https://amzn.to/3OdGIsR